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Thirty Three & 1/3 is the seventh studio album by English musician George Harrison, originally released in November 1976 via Dark Horse Records.

Thirty Three & 1/3 is the first release under Harrison’s Dark Horse label and is an excellent effort that features beautiful ballads, his trademark humor, and just a touch of soul.

The album came at an interesting time in Harrison’s career: he was recovering from a painful lawsuit, having been found guilty of plagiarizing The Chiffons’s “He’s So Fine” for his song “My Sweet Lord”. His last album, 1974’s Dark Horse, had not performed well on the charts; adding to the aggravation was negative reviews he received for his accompanying North American tour. Considering these problems, the album’s content astounds with its positive and romantic outlook.

Kicking off the album with a funky beat is “Woman Don’t You Cry For Me”, featuring Willie Weeks’s popping bass line, Harrison’s signature guitar, and Tom Scott’s deep saxophone adding some punch. Harrison appears in fine voice, exploring its upper ranges. Changing gears is “Dear One”, could have been an extra song from All Things Must Pass. Featuring church organ from Billy Preston, the tune beautifully reveals Harrison’s spiritual side

Harrison’s well-known sense of humor emerges in two songs: “This Song” and “Crackerbox Palace”. The former answers his critics from the “My Sweet Lord” lawsuit, stating the tune doesn’t “infringe on anyone’s copyright” and that “my expert tells me it’s okay.” Preston’s rocking piano and Scott’s screeching sax add to the song’s fun, and Harrison’s buoyant solo shows his enjoyment in skewering those involved in the trial. Listen closely for a brief cameo from Monty Python’s Eric Idle during the bridge.

“Crackerbox Palace” contains surreal images and sly wit: when a song begins with the line “I was so young when I was born,” it signals the absurd theme. Featuring Harrison’s slide-guitar and a synthesizer that sounds as if it were being played underwater, the track is simply a delightful romp that illustrates Harrison’s love of wordplay.

Another standout, “Pure Smokey” serves as Harrison’s tribute to legendary Motown star Smokey Robinson. A favorite song, “Learning How To Love You,” is simply a gorgeous ballad that exudes emotion. The chord changes are unusual yet beautiful, and the band gels together to produce a laid-back sound. Harrison’s almost fragile voice soars over the keyboards. His picking style in the bridge demonstrates Harrison’s skills as a guitarist.

Harrison undertook extensive promotion for the album, which included producing comedy-themed video clips for three of the songs, two of which were directed by Monty Python member Eric Idle.

While Thirty Three And 1/3 fared well on the charts, it is often overlooked in Harrison career retrospectives. But Thirty Three And 1/3 deserves a special place in the Harrison catalog, as it illustrates his exemplary gifts and shows how music can be both uplifting and thought provoking.

The album peaked at #11 on the US Billboard 200, #35 on the UK and #27 on the Australian Albums charts.